Aster smiled, as though Rabbit had said something funny. The android inclined its head. “You know... Nevermind,” he said. He drank the tea down to its dregs, leaned up against the fence. “Keep up the good work.” With that, he disappeared back inside the house. Rabbit watched him go, wondering at the significance of the exchange, but ultimately dismissed it. It had been anomalous, but nothing worthy of further rumination.
This proved to be false, though at the time Rabbit had no way of knowing. The change began gradually: Aster requested the android’s help with some training. “This is easier with two people,” he said, setting the black bird--- Rook, he called it--- onto his arm.